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EN BANC

In Re: G.R. No. 157659 A.C. No. 11111

"ELIGIO P. MALLARI v.
GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INSURANCE SYSTEM and the Present:
PROVINCIAL SHERIFF OF
PAMPANGA." SERENO, C.J., *
CARPIO,
VELASCO, JR., *
LEONARDO-DE CASTRO,*
PERALTA,*
BERSAMIN,*
DEL CASTILLO,
PERLAS-BERNABE,
LEONEN,
JARDELEZA,
CAGUIOA,
MARTIRES,
TIJAM,*
REYES, JR., * and
GESMUNDO, JJ

Promulgated:
January 10, 2018

¥1~1J01-- F--
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DECISION

JARDELEZA, J.:

This is an administrative case involving a member of the bar. In our

Decision in G.R. No. 157659 entitled Eligio P. Mallari v. Government
Service Insurance System and the Provincial Sheriff of Pampanga 1
promulgated on January 25, 2010, this Court directed the Committee on Bar
Discipline of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP-CBD) to investigate
respondent Atty. Eligio P. Mallari (respondent) for what appear to be: (1) his
deliberate disregard of the Rules of Court and jurisprudence pertinent to the

• No part.

1
1
611 SCRA 32; Rollo, pp. 4-22. Penned by Associate Justice Lucas P. Bersamin, with the concurrence
of Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno and Associate Justices Conchita Carpio Morales, Teresita J. Leonardo-
De Castm, and Mart;n S. vmarama,
 Decision 2 A.C. No. 11111

issuance and implementation of the writ of possession under Act No. 3135, 2
as amended; and (2) his witting violations of the Lawyer's Oath and the
3
Code of Professional Responsibility (CPR).

The facts leading to this disciplinary action, as found by this Court in

G.R. No. 157659, are as follows:

In 1968, respondent obtained two loans from the Government Service

Insurance System (GSIS) in the total amount of P34,000. These loans were
secured by mortgages over two parcels of land registered under his and his
wife's names. Eventually, respondent was unable to meet his obligations to
4
the GSIS, which prompted the latter to remind him to settle his account.

On March 21, 1984, the GSIS applied for the extrajudicial foreclosure
of the mortgage due to respondent's failure to settle his account.
Respondent, however, was able to stall this by requesting for a final
computation of his outstanding account and persuading the Sheriff to hold
the publication of the foreclosure notice in abeyance. On December 13,
1984, the GSIS responded to his request and rendered a detailed explanation
of the account. On May 30, 1985, it sent another updated statement of
account. For failing to settle his account, the GSIS finally commenced
extrajudicial foreclosure proceedings on respondent's mortgaged properties
on July 21, 1986. 5

On August 22, 1986, respondent filed a complaint for injunction with

application for preliminary injunction against the GSIS and the Provincial
Sheriff of Pampanga in Branch 44 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), in San
Fernando, Pampanga. This was docketed as Civil Case No. 7802. 6 The RTC
ultimately decided Civil Case No. 7802 in his favor. Upon appeal by the
GSIS, the CA reversed the RTC on March 27, 1996. This Court, in G.R. No.
124468, denied respondent's petition for review on certiorari on September
16, 1996, as well as his motion for reconsideration on January 15, 1997. As
a result, the CA Decision dated March 27, 1996 became final and executory,
rendering unassailable the extrajudicial foreclosure and auction sale held on
September 22, 1986, and the issuance of titles in the name of the GSIS. 7

On September 2, 1999, the GSIS filed an ex parte motion for

execution and/or a writ of possession. The RTC issued a writ of execution
cum writ of possession on October 21, 1999, ordering the Sheriff to place the
GSIS in possession of the properties. 8 The Sheriff failed to serve the writ,
however, partly because of respondent's request for an extension of time

An Act to Regulate the Sale of Property under Special Powers Inserted in or Annexed to Real-Estate
Mortgages.
Mallari v. Government Service Insurance System, supra at 55.
4
Id. at 36.
Id.
Id. atr6-37.
Id. at 37.
Id.
 Decision 3 A.C. No. 11111

within which to vacate the properties. Respondent, however, instead filed a

motion for reconsideration and/or to quash the writ of execution on March
27, 2000. 9

Respondent also filed a case for consignation with a prayer for writ of
preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order against the GSIS and
the provincial Sheriff in the R TC in San Femando, Pampanga. This case,
docketed as Civil Case No. 12053, 10 was dismissed by the RTC on
November 10, 2000 on the ground of res judicata, impelling respondent to
appeal the dismissal to the CA. 11

Meanwhile, in Civil Case No. 7802, respondent filed: (1) a motion

dated April 5, 2000 to hold the GSIS, et al. in contempt of court for painting
the fence of the properties during the pendency of his motion for
reconsideration and/or to quash the writ of execution; and (2) a motion dated
April 17, 2000 to hold the GSIS and its local manager Arnulfo B. Cardenas
in contempt of court for ordering the electric company to cut off electric
services to the properties during the pendency of his motion for
reconsideration and/or quash the writ of execution. 12

Eventually, Civil Case No. 7802 was re-assigned to Branch 48, whose
Presiding Judge denied the motions for contempt of court on July 30, 2001
and directed the Branch Clerk of Court to cause the re-implementation of the
writ of execution cum writ of possession dated October 21, 1999.
Respondent sought reconsideration but this was denied on February 11,
2002. 13

Respondent assailed the orders denying his motions for contempt, the
order causing the re-implementation of the writ of execution cum writ of
possession, and the denial of his motion for reconsideration with the CA.
The CA, however, denied his petition for certiorari. 14

Respondent brought the matter before us in G.R. No. 157659, where

we affirmed the CA's Decision. We held that the issuance of the writ of
possession in an extrajudicial foreclosure sale is purely ministerial. 15 We
further stressed that respondent, as a lawyer, should have known that, as a
non-redeeming mortgagor, he had no more right to challenge the issuance of
the writ of execution cum writ of possession upon the ex parte application of
the GSIS, especially after the consolidation of ownership of the properties in
the GSIS. 16 Thus, his actions can only be tainted by bad faith. 17 This Court

9 Id. at 38.
IO Id.
11 Id.
12 Id.
n Id. at 39.
14 Id.
1s Jd a43..f,
16 Id. at 5 .
11 Id.
 Decision .4 A.C. No. 11111

further agreed with the CA's observation that the petition before it is "part of
the dilatory tactics x x x to stall the execution of a final and executory
decision in Civil Case No. 7802 which has already been resolved with
finality by no less than the highest tribunal of the land." 18 Thus, we deemed
it proper to direct the IBP-CBD to conduct an investigation on respondent,
the pertinent portion of which we quote:
The Committee on Bar Discipline of the Integrated Bar
of the Philippines is directed to investigate the petitioner
for what appear to be (a) his deliberate disregard of the
Rules of Court and jurisprudence pertinent to the issuance
and implementation of the writ of possession under Act No.
3135, as amended; and (b) his witting violations of the
Lawyer's Oath and the Code of Professional Responsibility.

SO ORDERED. 19 (Italics in the original.)

On February 17, 2010, the IBP-CBD notified respondent of the

Decision in G.R. No. 157659 and required him to file his verified answer. 20

In the meantime, respondent's motion for reconsideration of the

Decision in G.R. No. 157659 was denied with finality by this Court on April
28, 2010. 21
22
In his answer to the disbarment complaint, respondent claims that he
did not deliberately disregard the Rules of Court and jurisprudence relative
to the issuance and implementation of the writ of possession, as well as the
Lawyer's Oath and the CPR. 23 He maintains that he is still the owner of the
unlawfully foreclosed properties because: ( 1) the GSIS' action for mortgage
has prescribed since more than 10 years had lapsed since the contracting of
the obligations; 24 (2) he still has in his favor the one year right of
redemption, to be counted from February 22, 1997, the finality of the
25
decision in Civil Case No. 7802; (3) he preserved his right of redemption
by effecting a valid tender of payment and consignation to the GSIS on May
28, 1997 ;26 and (4) due to GSIS' refusal to receive his payment, he filed the
case for consignation (Civil Case No. 12053) on March 27, 2000. 27 Hence,
respondent concludes that, as owner of the properties, he has the right to
exclude any person from its enjoyment and disposal and may use such
reasonably necessary force as allowed under Article 429 of the Civil Code. 28
In any case, he asserts that all the pleadings in this case were signed by his

18
Id. at 53.
19
Id. at 55.
20
Rollo, p. 209.
21
Id. at 551-552.
22
Id. at 125-208.
23
Id. at 14 7.
24
Id. at 180.
?5
- Id. at 159. ;
Id. at 182. ~
26

?7
- Id. at 81, 181.
28
Id. at 183- I 8
 Decision 5 A.C. No. 11111

lawyer, Atty. Andres Ocampo, except for two: (1) reply to GSIS dated
September 11, 2003; and (2) petition for review in G.R. No. 157659. 29

The IBP-CBD, in their Report and Recommendation, 30 found that the

means employed by respondent are dilatory moves to delay the execution of
the judgment in favor of the GSIS. In the process, he violated his Lawyer's
Oath and Rule 10.3, Canon 10 of the CPR. The IBP-CBD thus
recommended that respondent be meted a penalty of suspension from the
practice oflaw for at least one year. 31

In its Resolution No. XX-2013-513, 32 the IBP Board of Governors

adopted the findings and recommendation of IBP Commissioner Oliver A.
Cachapero. It also denied respondent's subsequent motion for
reconsideration in Resolution No. XXI-2015-368. 33

These Resolutions, together with the records of the case, were

transmitted to this Court for final action, pursuant to Rule 139-B, Section
12(b). 34

We adopt the findings of the IBP Board of Governors on respondent's

unethical conduct, but modify the penalty in accord with recent
jurisprudence.

A lawyer must never be blinded by the cause of his client at the

expense of justice, even if the latter turned out to be himself. He must never
overlook that as officer of the court, he is primarily called upon to assist in
the administration of justice. 35 Often designated as vanguards of our legal
system, lawyers are called upon to protect and uphold truth and the rule of
law. 36 They are obliged to observe the rules of procedure and not to misuse
them to defeat the ends of justice. 37

In this case, the judgment in favor of the GSIS concerning the validity
of the extrajudicial foreclosure proceedings had long became final and
executory in G.R. No. 124468. Despite this, respondent, with the single
purpose of delaying the execution of the judgment by the winning party,
took the following series of actions which effectively obstructed the
execution of a final and executory judgment: ( 1) he caused the Sheriff to fail
in his service of the writ of possession upon his representation that the GSIS
had agreed to his request for extension of time to vacate the premises; yet, he
did not vacate the premises and instead filed a motion for reconsideration

29
Id. at 190-192.
30
Id. at 638-644.
31
Id. at 644.
32
Id. at 637.
33
Id. at 821.
34
Id. at 820.
35
see Ptusruilde, Inc. ·v. Revilla, Jr., A.c. No. 7056, September 13, 2006, 501 scRA 615, 623.
36
Id at 623- .
37
Id. at 624.
Decision .6 A.C. No. 11111

and/or to quash the writ of execution; (2) he commenced a second case

against the GSIS and the Provincial Sheriff before the RTC in San Fernando,
Pampanga for consignation coupled with a prayer for a writ of preliminary
injunction or temporary restraining order, knowing fully well that his right to
redeem has expired; and (3) he went on to file a motion for contempt against
the GSIS, et al. for painting the fence of the property, and for ordering the
electric company to cut off electric service, despite knowledge that the
GSIS' ownership over the properties has been upheld.

This Court, unable to tum a blind eye to the maneuverings employed

by respondent, previously observed:

Verily, the petitioner wittingly adopted his afore-

described worthless and vexatious legal maneuvers for no
other purpose except to delay the full enforcement of the
writ of possession, despite knowing, being himself a
lawyer, that as a non-redeeming mortgagor he could no
longer impugn both the extrajudicial foreclosure and the ex
parte issuance of the writ of execution cum writ of
possession; and that the enforcement of the duly-issued writ
of possession could not be delayed. He thus deliberately
abused court procedures and processes, in order to enable
himself to obstruct and stifle the fair and quick
administration of justice in favor of mortgagee and
purchaser GSIS.

His conduct contravened Rule 10.03, Canon 10 of the

Code of Professional Responsibility, by which he was
enjoined as a lawyer to "observe the rules of procedure and
xxx not [to] misuse them to defeat the ends of justice." By
his dilatory moves, he further breached and dishonored his
Lawyer's Oath, particularly:

xxx I will not wittingly or willingly promote or

sue any groundless, false or unlawful suit, nor give
aid nor consent to the same; I will delay no man for
money or malice, and will conduct myself as a
lawyer according to the best of my knowledge and
discretion with all good fidelity as well to the courts
as to my clients xxx

We stress that the petitioner's being the party litigant

himself did not give him the license to resort to dilatory
moves. His zeal to defend whatever rights he then believed
he had and to promote his perceived remaining interests in
the property already lawful transferred to GSIS should not
exceed the bounds of the law, for he remained at all times
an officer of the Court burdened to conduct himself "with
all good fidelity as well to the courts as to [his] clients."
His true obligation as a lawyer should not be warped by
any misplaced sense of his rights and interests as a litigant,

I
because he was, above all, bound not to unduly delay a /
case, not to impede the execution of a judgment, and not :~J1 / .
misuse Court processes. Consequently, he must be made
 Decision 7 A.C. No. 11111

account for his misconduct as a lawyer. 38 (Italics in the

original, citations omitted.)

Notably, when asked to answer the administrative charges against

him, respondent does not lament the actions he has taken. Rather, he justifies
them by insisting that this Court has erred in its decisions in G.R. No.
124468 and G.R. No. 157659-decisions which have long attained finality.
He again bombards the Court with arguments against the validity of the
extrajudicial foreclosure proceedings in this disciplinary case knowing fully
well, he being a member of the bar, that final and executory decisions may
no longer be disturbed. The same holds true with regard to respondent's
reliance on Article 429 of the Civil Code. His refuge, if at all, under the
article is tainted with bad faith since he knew that the issue on ownership of
the properties has long been settled in G.R. No. 124468. Such action on his
part only affirms his misplaced zealousness and malicious intent to reopen
the case in the hopes of gaining a favorable judgment. He demonstrates his
propensity to abuse and misuse court processes to the detriment of the
winning party and ultimately, the administration of justice. As such, he
violated Canon 10 and Rule 10.03 of the CPR:

Canon 10 - A lawyer owes candor, fairness and good

faith to the court.

xx xx

Rule 10.03 - A lawyer shall observe the rules of

procedure and shall not misuse them to defeat the ends
of justice.

Respondent owes good faith, fairness and candor to the court. By

arguing a case that has already been rejected repeatedly, he abused his right
of recourse to the courts. 39 His acts of not conducting himself "to the best of
his knowledge and discretion with all good fidelity to the courts" constitute
serious transgression of his professional oath.

Moreover, the filing of another action concerning the same subject

matter, in violation of the doctrine of res judicata, runs contrary to Canon
1240 of the CPR, which requires a lawyer to exert every effort and consider it
his duty to assist in the speedy and efficient administration of justice. 41
Respondent's act of filing Civil Case No. 12053 (which was dismissed by
the RTC on the ground of res judicata) further indicates his proclivity to
muddle the issues of the case in order to delay the execution of judgment in
Civil Case No. 7802. By his conduct, respondent violated not only the
lawyer's mandate "to delay no man for money or malice," but also Rules
12.02 and 12.04 of the CPR:
38
Mallari v. Government Service Insurance System, supra note I at 53-54.
39
Plus Builders, Inc. v. Revilla, Jr., supra note 35 at 624.
4
° Canon 12 - A lawyer shall exe1t every effort and consider it his duty t?ossist
i the speedy and
efficient administration of justice.
41
Alonso v. Relamida, Jr., A.C. No. 8481, August 3, 2010, 626 SCRA 281, 290.
 Decision f 8 A.C. No. 11111

Rule 12.02 - A lawyer shall not file multiple actions

arising from the same cause.

xx xx

Rule 12.04 - A lawyer shall not unduly delay a case,

impede the execution of a judgment or misuse Court
processes.

Respondent must be reminded that he is not merely the litigant in his

case. He is also his own counsel and an officer of the court with a duty to the
truth and the administration of justice:

A lawyer owes fidelity to the cause of his client, but not

at the expense of truth and the administration of justice.
The filing of multiple petitions constitutes abuse of the
court's processes and improper conduct that tends to
impede, obstruct and degrade the administration of justice
and will be punished as contempt of court. Needless to
state, the lawyer who files such multiple or repetitious
petitions (which obviously delays the execution of a final
and executory judgment) subjects himself to disciplinary
action for incompetence (for not knowing any better) or for
willful violation of his duties as an attorney to act with all
good fidelity to the courts, and to maintain only such
actions as appear to him to be just and are consistent with
42
truth and honor. (Citation omitted.)

Respondent cannot escape liability by claiming that it was his counsel,

Atty. Ocampo, who signed most of the pleadings. We note that respondent
admits that he filed the petition for review in G.R. No. 157659 before us. By
doing so, he ratified the previous actions taken by his counsel. For
otherwise, if he did not in fact sanction these deeds, he would not have
elevated before us the denial of the motions for contempt, the order causing
the re-implementation of the writ of execution cum writ of possession, and
the denial of his motion for reconsideration. This behavior on his part
reveals that the actions undertaken by his counsel were under his strict
instructions, or at the very least, with his consent. For having done so,
respondent also breached his oath as an officer of this Court not only by
filing groundless suits, but also by instructing another member of the bar to
do so.

In sum, we adopt the recommendation of the IBP-CBD holding

respondent guilty of violating the Lawyer's Oath; Canons 10 and 12; and
Rules 10.03, 12.02, and 12.04 of the CPR. However, we deem it proper to

42
Id. at 289-290.
 Decision 9 A.C. No. 11111

increase the penalty of suspension from the practice of law from one ( 1) year
to two (2) years. 43

WHEREFORE, premises considered, respondent Atty. Eligio P.

Mallari is hereby found GUILTY of violating the Lawyer's Oath; Canons
10 and 12; and Rules 10.03, 12.02, and 12.04 of the Code of Professional
Responsibility. He is hereby suspended from the practice of law for a period
of two (2) years effective upon receipt of a copy of this Decision.

SO ORDERED.

Associate Justice

WE CONCUR:

(No part)
MARIA LOURDES P.A. SERENO
Chief Justice

C)z::r?_
ANTONIO T. CARPIO
(No part)
PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.
Associate Justice Associate Justice

(No part) (No part)

TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO DIOSDADO M. PERALTA
Associate Justice Associate Justice
.,,.
(No part) ·v~c~
LUCAS P. BERSAMIN
Associate Justice Associate Justice

ESTELA AE~-BERNABE
Associate Justice Associate Justice

43
Salabao v. Villaruel, Jr., A.C. No. 8084, August 24, 2015, 768 SCRA l, 13; Avida Land Corporation
(formerly Laguna Properties Holdings, Inc.) v. Argosino, A.C. No. 7437, August 17, 2016, 800 SCRA
510, 523-524, citing Saladaga v. Astorga, A.C. No. 4697, November 25, 2014, 741 SCRA 603.
Decision .10 A.C. No. 11111

s UElff~lf.'f:rJRES
ssociate Justice

(No part) (No part)

NOEL GIMENEZ TIJAM ANDRES B. REYES, JR.
Associate Justice Associate Justice

.GESMUNDO

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